Supporting structure for concrete floors



April 21, 1936. c. A. KENDRICK SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR CONCRETE FLOORSFiled Aug. 2l, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l W rrom/r April 21, 1935 C. A.KENDRICK SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR CONCRETE FLOORS 1955 I 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed Aug'. 2l,

Patented Apr. 2l, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUPPORTING STRUCTUREFOR CONCRETE FLOORS This invention relates to certain new and usefulimprovements in structures for concrete floors in whichhorizontallydisposed forms are temporarily mounted upon removablesupporting elements.

The general object of this invention is to provide a removablesupporting structure for concrete floors or the like, which is light,durable and economical in construction and that may b-e quickly andeasily assembled in operative position or removed therefrom.

A more specific object of the invention resides in the construction of aform for concrete structure, and particularly to the structure of the l5ends of the forms whereby the forms may be readily adjusted to closelyengage the concrete supporting members or soflits interposed between theforms and also to permit the forms to be easily collapsed suiciently toenable the ready removal of the forms upon the concrete structure.

Another specific object resides in the means for removably securing theends and sides of the form members in position for receiving'theconcrete.

Other objects and advantages pertaining to the structure of the deviceand the form and relation of the parts thereof, will more fully appearfrom the following description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a plan view showing the forms in position before theconcrete has been poured, with portions thereof broken away to betterreveal the underlying supporting structure.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View taken on line 2 2,Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional View taken on line 3 3,Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional View taken on line 44, Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view taken on line 55, Figure l, illustrating the manner in which the end walls of the formsare maintained against lateral displacement.

Figure 6 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on line 6 6, Figure5.

Figure 7 is a detail vertical section illustrating a modified form ofsot taken substantially on r line 1 1, Fig. 8.

00 Figure 8 is a detail transverse vertical sectional view taken on line8 8, Fig. 7.

The structure illustrated in the drawings comprises the usual beam boxesI arranged in the usual manner between respective column members 2 andwhich, with said columns, form a substantially rectangular frame 3. Thebeam boxes I are shown as being constructed in the con- Ventional mannerfrom boards composed of wood or its equivalent and arranged to form abottom ll and two side walls 5, said side walls being reinforced byvertical battens 6 spaced longitudinally of the side walls.

The boxes l are each temporarily supported upon props or shores 1mounted in any wellknown manner upon suitable underlying struc- 10 ture,not shown. Mounted within the frame 3 is a structural support comprisinga pair of ledger beams 8 and in this instance four, ledger rails 9,together with their supporting members. The ledgerbeams 8, in thisinstance, extend lon- 15 gitudinally of the frame l substantially midwaybetween thel side beam boxes. Each ledger beam extends inwardly from arespective end beam box and are supported at their outer ends by cleatsI0 nailed or otherwise secured to the battens 6, while the inner ends ofthe ledger beams terminate in more or less longitudinal spaced relationdepending upon the distance between the beam boxes comprising the endsof the frame andare supported upon a respective prop or shore l2 andwhich are, in turn, supported upon any convenient underlying structure.

Each ledger beam 8 is preferably composed of a pair of channel ironsarranged edgewise and adjustably secured together in transverse parallelspaced relation by tie bolts I3 which extend through aligned aperturesprovided in the channel members and clamped to said channel members bynuts I4 screw-threaded on said bolts and positioned one adjacent eitherside of the channel member.

The ledger rails, in this instance, are angle irons of substantially thesame length as the ledger beams, and are secured by nails l5 or theirequivalent, to the battens 6 at respective ends of the side beam framesI in substantial parallel aligned relation with the ledger beams.

By referring more particularly to Figure 1, it will be noted that eachof the upper surfaces of the channel members comprising the ledger beamsand that of the ledger rails are provided with longitudinal spaced keyslots I1. These slots are for the purpose of receiving securing keys l1which, in this instance, are triangular in plan View, said keys beingfor the purpose ofv maintaining the ends of form members against inwardlateral movement, as will hereinafter more clearly appear, the key slotsin the ledger beams being utilized when short forms are used.

Upon the ledger beams and rails are mounted to be supported thereby, aplurality of, in this instance six, form members I8 for supporting theconcrete. Each of the form members I8 comprises a pair of pans I9 which,as shown, are inverted U-shaped in cross-section when placed inposition, and may be composed of sheet metal of any desired thicknessand strength. The pans comprising each form are mounted in alignmentwith each other, with their inner adjacent ends preferably arranged inoverlapping relation as at 20 to permit ready longitudinal adjustment ofthe pans within limits whereby the forms may be readily adapted to fitbetween beam boxes of diierent spacings.

Each of the form pans I9 is provided with laterally extending flanges 2lwhich, as shown, are adjacent the lower or free longitudinal edges ofthe pans and extend the full length thereof. These flanges arepreferably formed by turning the lower longitudinal edge portions ofeach side wall of the pan outwardly and then upwardly and inwardly uponitself so that the completed flange will extend outwardly from therespective side of the pan at substantially right angles thereto. 'I'hisflange structure provides a relatively light rigid supporting member forthe forms adapted to firmly rest upon the supporting ledger members atany place within their lengths and which also provides a rm continuousseat for the cement supporting softs placed intermediate the formswhich, it will be understood when mounted in operative position upon theledger members, are spacedlaterally in the usual manner to formreinforcing ribs on the floor or ceiling of proper thickness.

These flanges 2I are each provided with longitudinally spaced slots 22so positioned that when the forms are in operative position upon thesupporting ledgers, each slot will be in alignment with thecorresponding slot in the adjacent form. 'I'hese slots 22 are for thereception of a tie strap 23 which is a U-shaped member composed of sheetmetal or other suitable material which may be readily bent to thedesired form. These tie straps are adapted to extend across the upperface of adjacent flanges 2|, with the leg portions thereof extendingdownwardly through the apertures or slots 22 so as to prevent the inwardlateral movement of the side walls of the forms.

'Ihese particular tie straps 23 are adapted to be used for the sides ofthe forms positioned within the complete structure, while the sides ofthe forms located along the outer edge of the structure are securedagainst inward lateral movement by similar tie straps 24 which, asillustrated more clearly in Figure 4, are Z-shaped in cross-section andhave one leg thereof extended through a respective slot 22 in the form,while the other leg of the member extends along a respective batten 6 towhich it may be secured by a bolt or screw 25.

The hereinbefore-mentioned softs 21 are each preferably composed of apair of channel irons 28 arranged in inverted position when mounted uponthe form flanges 2I, as clearly illustrated in Figure 4 so as to providesuiiicient room between the transverse portion of the sofiits and theupper face of the flanges 2I to permit the ready removal of the tiestraps 23 when the structure is being disassembled. The channel irons 28are of substantially the same length as the corresponding pan I9comprising the forms I8 and have their adjacent inner ends arranged inoverlapping relation as at 29, the sides or legs of the upper positionedchannel member 28 being cut away as at 39 to permit the inner endthereof to be mounted in close relation to the inner end of thecompanion channel iron.

The softs are secured in position by bolts as 32 which pass throughaligned openings provided at the inner overlapping ends of the channelirons 28 and in a washer or plate 33 positioned across the lower face ofthe corresponding ledger beam 8, said bolt 32 being secured in place bya nut 3 screw-threaded on the lower end of the bolt and engaging saidplate 33. The outer ends of the solts are removably secured to theledger rails 9 by bolts 35, as clearly illustrated in Figure 2.

The sofiits just described are adapted more particularly for theintermediate spaces, while a similar soiiit as 35 is provided for theouter longitudinal edge of the pan adjacent the beam boxes I. Thissoflit 36, as illustrated more particularly in Figure 4, is composed ofa pair of channel irons 31 which have one of the side walls or legsthereof removed so as to form a flat upper plate adapted to be securedby screws or bolts to the upper longitudinal edge of the adjacent sidewall 5 of the corresponding beam box I.

Inasmuch as the pans I9 are supported by the understructure at theirends only, I have provided each pan and soiiit section 23 with alignedholes substantially midway between their ends for the reception of a pin38. It will thus be seen by referring more particularly to Figures l and4, that these pins 33 connect the pans I9 to the respective somt so thatthe pans are supported at their centers and prevented from sagging asthe cement is poured on the upper surface thereof.

In order that the ends of each of the form members I8 may be closed forpreventing the entrance of cement to the inside of said form members, Ihave provided a pair of end plates 4D composed preferably of sheet metaland which have a width substantially equal to the depth of therespective form, while the lengths of the plates are greater than thewidth of the interior of the forms so that the inner adjacent ends ofthe plates may lie in overlapping relation as at 4I, Figures 4 and 6.

Each of these plates is secured to the adjacent portion of the formmember I8 by means of rivets 4 2 or their equivalent which pass throughaligned openings provided in the side and transverse wall of the formand in an inwardly extending flange 43' provided along the inner sideand outer end of each of the end plates 4I). The lower or outer side ofeach of the plates 49 is also provided with an inwardly extending flangeas 43 of substantially the same width as the flange 43 and which isadapted to abut against a corresponding key I8 when said key is in oneof the key slots I'I so that said key will prevent the lateral inwardmovement of the end plates during the pouring of the cement.

The outward lateral movement of the end plate is prevented by a softit45 which, in this instance, is composed of channel iron, as shown morereadily in Figure 5, of sufcient width to bridge the space betwee-n theends of the forms and the adjacent side of the corresponding beam box I,with the outer flange of the soflit resting upon the upper longitudinaledge of the beam box. I'hese softs 45 are secured in place by F nails orscrews 46 which extend through suitable apertures provided in thetransverse portion of the soflit and are secured in a correspondingbatten 6.

It will now be understood that I have provided a removable supportingstructure for concrete work comprising a minimum number of parts andwhich may be quickly and easily assembled to form a substantially tightsupport for concrete work and to be as readily disassembled at thecompletion of said concrete Work, For instance, it will be noted thatthe sides of each of the form members I8 may be quickly and easilybrought into relatively tight relation with the corresponding somtmember 21 by the manipulation of the tie straps 23 and, at the sametime, maintain a practically tight continuous end wall of the formmembers irrespective of any variation in the Width or spacing of thesoflit members.

It will also be observed that the form members I8 may be readily removedfrom the concrete Work after the ledger members have been removed simplyby disengaging the tie straps 23 and 24 and then springing the sideWalls of the forms inwardly to Withdraw said sides away from theadjacent portion of the concrete and to sufciently contract the upper ortransverse portion of the forms to permit the same to be readilywithdrawn from the respective recess in the cement.

In Figures 7 and 8 I have illustrated a modified form of soiit as 5l)which is not only connected at its ends to the ledger beam 8 and rail 9in the manner shown for the sofiits 2l, but these soiits are alsodirectly connected to the form pans I9 in such a manner as to not onlysupport the pan, but to secure the pans against lateral displacementwithout the use of the tie straps 23.

The soflits are composed of rails 5l rectangular in cross-section andcomposed preferably of wood cut to the required Width and length andreinforced by metal plates 52 secured to the central portion of thebottom of the rail by bolts 53. These plates 52 terminate a shortdistance from either end of the wood rail 5I and are of less Width thanthe rail so as to lie intermediate the form flanges 2|, as'illustratedin Figure 8. 'Ihe wood rails are also provided with longitudinallyspaced openings 54 adjacent each longitudinal edge thereof, and when thesoits and forms are assembled, the wood rails rest directly upon the panflanges 2l and are secured to said flanges by bolts 55 Which passthrough said openings 54 in the rail and corresponding strap openings 22provided in the flanges 2|.

Although I have shown and particularly described the preferredembodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the exactconstruction shown as various changes both in the form and relation ofthe parts thereof may readily be made, without departing from the spiritof this invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a removable supporting structure for concrete floors, a LJ-shapedform member made of sheet metal, a closure for one end of the formmember comprising a pair of imperforate elements connected to saidmember and disposed in overlapping relation with each other whereby thesides of the member are free to be moved laterally toward and from eachother, a support rail upon which the end portion of said member isadapted to rest, and removable means associated with said rail at oneside of the elements for maintaining said elements against lateraldisplacement.

2. In a removable supporting structure for concrete floors, a U-shapedform member made of sheet metal, a closure for one end of the formmember comprising a pair of elements secured in overlapping relation tosaid member whereby the sides of the member are free to be movedlaterally toward and from each other, a support upon which the endportion of said member is adapted to rest, said support having a slottherein adjacent the inner face of said elements and a key engaging saidslot the protruding portion of which is adapted to engage the inner faceof said elements for maintaining them against lateral displacement.

3. In a supporting structure for concrete floors, a plurality ofU-shaped form members made of sheet metal and having laterally extendingflanges thereon, soflits having a length substantially equal to thelength of corresponding form members mounted on said flanges, meansengaging the end portions only of the flanges for supporting the formmembers and soflits at the ends thereof, and a pin removably associatedwith the soflits intermediate the ends thereof and supportablyconnecting the central portion of said members with the soffits.

4. In a supporting structure for concrete floors, a plurality ofU-shaped form members of sheet metal and having laterally extendingflanges thereon, soiiits in engagement with said flanges, said sofiitshaving 4a length substantially equal to the length of corresponding formmembers, means engaging the end portions of said flanges for supportingthe form members and the soflits at the ends thereof, means engaging theform members independently of the flanges for connecting the formmembers and sofi-its intermediate the ends thereof, closures for theends of said form members comprising a pair of elements connected tosaid members and disposed in overlapping relation with each otherwhereby the sides of the members are free to be moved laterally towardand from each other, and removable means associated with said formmember supporting means for maintaining said closure elements againstlateral displacement.

5. In a supporting structure for concrete floors, a plurality ofU-shaped form members made of sheet metal and having laterally extendingflanges thereon, soits having a length substan-

